Wigan 2 Southampton 2: Maloney's late strike rescues a point for struggling Latics

A soft late equaliser from Shaun Maloney robbed Mauricio Pochettino of a first win as Southampton manager but for all the furore over his replacement of Nigel Adkins, the Argentine is starting to make an impact.

Two defeats in 12 did for Adkins, so it may be hard to be too positive about a run of two points from three matches.

But unlucky to only draw 0-0 with Everton in Pochettino’s first game, Sir Alex Ferguson described the Saints as the best visitors to Old Trafford this season after Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat by Manchester United.

Hero: Shaun Maloney scored a late equaliser to rescue a point for Wigan

The visitors trailed to a first-half header from Gary Caldwell at the DWStadium but their destructive pressing game wore down Wigan.

Rickie Lambert headed the Saints level and Morgan Schneiderlin looked to have scored the winner with five minutes left.

But Maloney touched in from close range after Paul Scharner won a header from Jean Beausejour’s corner.

Pochettino said: ‘I’m frustrated because the team played a great match With the effort theteam have given, we deserved to win.

‘It could be two victories and one draw. We’ll work on set-pieces after our mistakes. Football can be cruel anywhere. I think this team are good enough for this league.’

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez had every right to be pleased with salvaging a point but his team may regret this result, which wasted a chance to move level on points with the Saints.

Caldwell headed in Beasejour’s corner but Southampton’s frenetic workrate ensured Wigan could never settle and when Gaston Rodriguez glanced on Jack Cork’s cross, Lambert nodded in at the far post.

The job looked complete when Rodriguez raced down the left and cut in to cross for Schneiderlin to tap home.

But Wigan equalised in the last minute and Martinez said: ‘The character we showed to get back level is exactly what we need.’

Delight: Maloney's goal came when Wigan trailed 2-1 despite having led at half-time

The game had been a midfield battle between two of the league's passing sides until Wigan created the first chance 13 minutes in.

Jean Beausejour swung over a great cross from the left and Franco Di Santo did brilliantly to get his toe to it and stab the ball towards the far post but Artur Boruc was equal to it.

Three minutes later Southampton really should have scored as Lambert picked out Gaston Ramirez in acres of space 10 yards out.

With the DW Stadium waiting for an offside flag that never came, Ramirez slashed the ball well over the bar, and replays showed he was clearly onside.

The next opening produced a goal, with
Beausejour again the architect. The Chilean's corner picked out the
head of Caldwell, who, having engineered space, placed his header
perfectly into the bottom corner.

Southampton almost levelled straight
away in bizarre fashion when James McCarthy took too long over a
clearance and smashed it against Schneiderlin.

The ball spun towards the top corner off the Southampton midfielder but Ali Al Habsi managed to claw it away just in time.

Opener: Gary Caldwell's 25th-minute header gave Wigan the lead

The scoreline was harsh on Saints and
they dominated the final stages of the first half but were unable to
find an equaliser. They came close twice, first Jos Hooiveld heading
just wide before Jay Rodriguez's header was cleared by Caldwell at the
far post.

Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino
made a change at the break, Steven Davis replacing Ramirez, who had
picked up an injury at the end of the first half in a clash with Roger
Espinoza.

The visitors continued to do most of
the pressing and with a little over half an hour to go Wigan boss
Roberto Martinez opted for a defensive reshuffle.

Jordi Gomez replaced Ronnie Stam,
meaning Beausejour dropped back into defence, Maynor Figueroa moved into
the centre and Scharner to right-back.

They continued to live dangerously,
though, and Saints surely would have scored had Schneiderlin managed to
connect properly with a cross from Lambert, who was proving a real
handful for Wigan.

In the 60th minute, Adam Lallana
entered the fray for Saints as he continued to work his way back from a
knee injury, and four minutes later they had their equaliser.

Jack Cork crossed and Rodriguez
outjumped the Wigan defence to head on for Lambert, who bravely beat Al
Habsi to the ball at the back post.

Southampton sensed a vital win was
there for the taking and they were inches away from going ahead in the
71st minute as Lallana pounced on a half-blocked effort and smacked his
shot against the near post.

Turnaround: Morgan Schneiderlin scored what looked to be the winning goal in the 85th minute

Embrace: Mauricio Pochettino is still searching for his first victory as Southampton boss while Roberto Martinez's side are without a win in their last five league matches

Wigan finally quelled the siege on Al
Habsi's goal but Southampton were not to be denied and, from a Latics
corner, Rodriguez burst away down the left, beat a lunging challenge
from substitute Callum McManaman and crossed for Schneiderlin to smash
home.

Wigan looked down and out but they
refused to be beaten and with the match entering the 90th minute
Scharner got his head to a corner and Maloney scuffed the ball over the
line.